You didn't say which 75-300 lens. For about a year I used a Tamron 70 - 300 and finally decided to upgrade to the Canon 70 - 300 L lens.
The L lens is heavier and a bit quicker to auto-focus and weather sealed, however I learned more respect for the Tamron 70 - 300 because it was almost as good as the L lens.
So Phil, you now own a 75 - 300 lens but you may be allowed to exchange it for the Tamron 70-300. Only do that if you learn your 75 - 300 is not what it should be.
For everyone else in your position, I can vouch for the Tamron 70 - 300 as a very good value as I now know how it measures up to the Canon 70 - 300 f4 . 5.6 L lens. TG
PS: You may not notice much difference between the two lenses on my photo blog..PhotoTonyG.blogspotDotcom.

You didn't say which 75-300 lens. For about a year I used a Tamron 70 - 300 and finally decided to upgrade to the Canon 70 - 300 L lens.

The L lens is heavier and a bit quicker to auto-focus and weather sealed, however I learned more respect for the Tamron 70 - 300 because it was almost as good as the L lens.

So Phil, you now own a 75 - 300 lens but you may be allowed to exchange it for the Tamron 70-300. Only do that if you learn your 75 - 300 is not what it should be.

For everyone else in your position, I can vouch for the Tamron 70 - 300 as a very good value as I now know how it measures up to the Canon 70 - 300 f4 . 5.6 L lens. TG

PS: You may not notice much difference between the two lenses on my photo blog..PhotoTonyG.blogspotDotcom.

Phil1963 and Alych, I hope you both come back to this thread and let us know how you are doing with your new lenses.
I sure like mine, although it didn't make an instant ace out of me. Maybe I should learn to use a tripod more often. TG

Phil1963 and Alych, I hope you both come back to this thread and let us know how you are doing with your new lenses.
I sure like mine, although it didn't make an instant ace out of me. Maybe I should learn to use a tripod more often. TG

If I can jump on this thread also, I have the d3100 with a 55-200 kit lens. I also have the Tamron 300 zoom which i dont like but there you go and a Sigma TC 1.4 which dosnt fit any of my lenses. I have narrowed it down to two lenses in my price range the Sigma 150-500 or the sigma 70-200 F2.8. Im really torn here between which one to get ths sharpness of the 2.8 or the extra reach on the 500. By the way im informed the TC will work on both these. I mainly like to get up early in the mornings and head out into the country looking at wildlife etc, I also know one or two places where I know I can see things like kestrels, peregrines, buzzards, foxes and rabbits, but cant really get close enough and a hide is out of the question though I am pretty much camoflaged and have also used scrim netting to sort of break up my profile. I know deep down the 200 hasnt enough zoom for what i have in mind but im counting on the TC here plus I know I can use that lens for lots of other things, whereas the 500 will be ok but not for really walking about with so theres the dilema. HELP lol

If I can jump on this thread also, I have the d3100 with a 55-200 kit lens. I also have the Tamron 300 zoom which i dont like but there you go and a Sigma TC 1.4 which dosnt fit any of my lenses. I have narrowed it down to two lenses in my price range the Sigma 150-500 or the sigma 70-200 F2.8. Im really torn here between which one to get ths sharpness of the 2.8 or the extra reach on the 500. By the way im informed the TC will work on both these. I mainly like to get up early in the mornings and head out into the country looking at wildlife etc, I also know one or two places where I know I can see things like kestrels, peregrines, buzzards, foxes and rabbits, but cant really get close enough and a hide is out of the question though I am pretty much camoflaged and have also used scrim netting to sort of break up my profile. I know deep down the 200 hasnt enough zoom for what i have in mind but im counting on the TC here plus I know I can use that lens for lots of other things, whereas the 500 will be ok but not for really walking about with so theres the dilema. HELP lol

The use of TCs on lenses with a max aperture of over f4.0 will result in manual focus only. The 70-300mm range of lenses will not give very good quality with a TC.
The Sigma 150-500mm gets good reviews, but you will need to use a tripod with the long end, even with OS. The Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L is a good sharp lens, and is cheap at around $550.0 without the tripod collar or hood, and the IS version is about twice that price. I just sold one, because I'm going mirrorless, again.:P I used a Nikon 80-400mm VR for 4 years and loved it, it has some of the best optics made, but it has an antique focusing system which doesn't work on all Nikon DSLRs, and it's slow. I used the Nikon 70-300mm ED for 4 years also, good lens with a tripod.
Do a comparison between the tamron and Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lenses. The Tamron is good.

The use of TCs on lenses with a max aperture of over f4.0 will result in manual focus only. The 70-300mm range of lenses will not give very good quality with a TC.

The Sigma 150-500mm gets good reviews, but you will need to use a tripod with the long end, even with OS. The Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L is a good sharp lens, and is cheap at around $550.0 without the tripod collar or hood, and the IS version is about twice that price. I just sold one, because I'm going mirrorless, again. I used a Nikon 80-400mm VR for 4 years and loved it, it has some of the best optics made, but it has an antique focusing system which doesn't work on all Nikon DSLRs, and it's slow. I used the Nikon 70-300mm ED for 4 years also, good lens with a tripod.

Do a comparison between the tamron and Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lenses. The Tamron is good.

Love a debate... brrttPaul, You said you did not like the Tamron 300 zoom. The 75 - 300 Tamron is a lemon while the new 70 - 300mm Tamron [ I own one ], is a very good zoom. I know as I compared it to my new 70 - 300 Canon is f4...[faster focus, but not much.]
Lens review on photozone.DE says something like a hidden 'L' lens. High praise..eh?
StrayCat, I need your 1.4X TC... will it work for a Canon T2I, [550 d] ? See, some newer Tamron lenses are really very good.. StrayCat also like his 70-200 Tamron.
Curious how the Canon 1.4X TC will not work well with the Canon 70-300 f4. Tamron or Kenko TC have been suggested os OK. I have seen many example photos and the TC seems to have little or no bad effects. Alas, your 1.4X TC is for Nikon not Canon. TG

Love a debate... brrttPaul, You said you did not like the Tamron 300 zoom. The 75 - 300 Tamron is a lemon while the new 70 - 300mm Tamron [ I own one ], is a very good zoom. I know as I compared it to my new 70 - 300 Canon is f4...[faster focus, but not much.]

Lens review on photozone.DE says something like a hidden 'L' lens. High praise..eh?

StrayCat, I need your 1.4X TC... will it work for a Canon T2I, [550 d] ? See, some newer Tamron lenses are really very good.. StrayCat also like his 70-200 Tamron.

Curious how the Canon 1.4X TC will not work well with the Canon 70-300 f4. Tamron or Kenko TC have been suggested os OK. I have seen many example photos and the TC seems to have little or no bad effects. Alas, your 1.4X TC is for Nikon not Canon. TG

dear alynch, I bought some time ago a Tamron 300 f2.8 It fits just about every camera under the sun, in doubt you can buy one for another body and just get the adapter, which come to about £20 s/h.
I paid my lens £500 and it is very very good. Just look at many of my bird or flower pics that I took with it.

dear alynch, I bought some time ago a Tamron 300 f2.8 It fits just about every camera under the sun, in doubt you can buy one for another body and just get the adapter, which come to about £20 s/h.
I paid my lens £500 and it is very very good. Just look at many of my bird or flower pics that I took with it.

The Canon 400 f5.6L is a wonderful lens, and can be had second hand for under a grand. Just exchanged mine at MBP since I am switching to Nikon in the next couple of weeks.
If you are looking for a real budget option to test the water I have a Sigma 135-400 looking for a new home - haven't got around to listing it yet, only probably looking for £150 for it, drop me a line if you are interested (will stick it on the classifieds when I get around to it otherwise, or just eBay the thing!)

The Canon 400 f5.6L is a wonderful lens, and can be had second hand for under a grand. Just exchanged mine at MBP since I am switching to Nikon in the next couple of weeks.

If you are looking for a real budget option to test the water I have a Sigma 135-400 looking for a new home - haven't got around to listing it yet, only probably looking for £150 for it, drop me a line if you are interested (will stick it on the classifieds when I get around to it otherwise, or just eBay the thing!)

[quote]The Canon 400 f5.6L is a wonderful lens, and can be had second hand for under a grand. Just exchanged mine at MBP since I am switching to Nikon in the next couple of weeks.
If you are looking for a real budget option to test the water I have a Sigma 135-400 looking for a new home - haven't got around to listing it yet, only probably looking for £150 for it/quote]
I agree wholeheartedly with the Canon 400L which you can buy new from a reputable Scottish dealer for under a grand.
If I was the OP I'd be biting your hand off for the Sigma!

Quote:The Canon 400 f5.6L is a wonderful lens, and can be had second hand for under a grand. Just exchanged mine at MBP since I am switching to Nikon in the next couple of weeks.

If you are looking for a real budget option to test the water I have a Sigma 135-400 looking for a new home - haven't got around to listing it yet, only probably looking for £150 for it/quote]

I agree wholeheartedly with the Canon 400L which you can buy new from a reputable Scottish dealer for under a grand.

Not too costly? Tamron 70 - 300mm. Recently I 'upgraded' to a Canon 70 - 300. Surprise!...The Tamron is only a little slower AF than the new L lens. Both are used here.. PhotoTonyG.blogspot.com. You will not notice much, [if any], difference. TG

Not too costly? Tamron 70 - 300mm. Recently I 'upgraded' to a Canon 70 - 300. Surprise!...The Tamron is only a little slower AF than the new L lens. Both are used here.. PhotoTonyG.blogspot.com. You will not notice much, [if any], difference. TG

The problem with the 70-300mm, is that it still falls short for bird photography, and it's not fast enough for flight shots. The Canon 400mm f5.6 is an excellent flight lens, and so is the 70-200mm f2.8L, but it's short for perched bird shots. From my experience I believe you need a minimum of 600mm, after the crop factor has been added, so the 400mm f5.6 or the very versatile 100-400mm L IS.

The problem with the 70-300mm, is that it still falls short for bird photography, and it's not fast enough for flight shots. The Canon 400mm f5.6 is an excellent flight lens, and so is the 70-200mm f2.8L, but it's short for perched bird shots. From my experience I believe you need a minimum of 600mm, after the crop factor has been added, so the 400mm f5.6 or the very versatile 100-400mm L IS.

[quote]The problem with the 70-300mm, is that it still falls short for bird photography, and it's not fast enough for flight shots[/quote]
Works fine for me, captured Skylarks and Greenfinches in flight as well as the usual Birds of Prey, Swans etc. You do need to either crop, use better field craft or visit places like the Hawk Conservancy but with the 5Dmk2 or 7D for instance I'l happily shoot at 1/1600th sec with ISO 400 and get full on action shots.
There are a few images [link=http://imagesfromnature.foliopic.com/gallery/the-hawk-conservancy-2118]here[/link] to give an indication of what I'm talking about with BOP Shots and
here for [link=http://imagesfromnature.foliopic.com/gallery/birds-2151]some smaller bird shots in flight[/link]

Quote:The problem with the 70-300mm, is that it still falls short for bird photography, and it's not fast enough for flight shots

Works fine for me, captured Skylarks and Greenfinches in flight as well as the usual Birds of Prey, Swans etc. You do need to either crop, use better field craft or visit places like the Hawk Conservancy but with the 5Dmk2 or 7D for instance I'l happily shoot at 1/1600th sec with ISO 400 and get full on action shots.

We should clarify that you are using the L model of that lens and as you say, a 5D M II, top of the line in both cases Brian. I was thinking more in terms of a regular 70-300mm lens. I think for the same money for the 70-300mm L lens, I would prefer to have the 100-400mm for the extra reach, and IS.

We should clarify that you are using the L model of that lens and as you say, a 5D M II, top of the line in both cases Brian. I was thinking more in terms of a regular 70-300mm lens. I think for the same money for the 70-300mm L lens, I would prefer to have the 100-400mm for the extra reach, and IS.

I read the above thread [quote]Tamron 70 - 300mm. Recently I 'upgraded' to a Canon 70 - 300. Surprise!...The Tamron is only a little slower AF than the new L lens.[/quote]
as referring to the L version in comparison with the Tamron VC.
[quote]I think for the same money for the 70-300mm L lens, I would prefer to have the 100-400mm for the extra reach, and IS[/quote]
I tried both (had the 100-400 for a week on trial) but went the other way. The 70-300LIS is lighter, packs into my shoulder bag nicely and has better IS + faster / more accurate focus than the 100-400. Its also sharper wide open (all this of course based on my sample of one for each lens :) )
I think the good news is that we are spoilt for choice on good quality, lowish price lenses in this FL range

I read the above thread Quote:Tamron 70 - 300mm. Recently I 'upgraded' to a Canon 70 - 300. Surprise!...The Tamron is only a little slower AF than the new L lens.

as referring to the L version in comparison with the Tamron VC.

Quote:I think for the same money for the 70-300mm L lens, I would prefer to have the 100-400mm for the extra reach, and IS

I tried both (had the 100-400 for a week on trial) but went the other way. The 70-300LIS is lighter, packs into my shoulder bag nicely and has better IS + faster / more accurate focus than the 100-400. Its also sharper wide open (all this of course based on my sample of one for each lens )

I think the good news is that we are spoilt for choice on good quality, lowish price lenses in this FL range